Denise Rich, aka The Rich Artist
Focusing on Original Oil Paintings of cows and cattle since 2004
The Official Happy Cow Artist
Best known for her bovine renditions, with unique compositions and contemporary views, Denise has combined her love of animals and art in oil for the past 20 years. Denise's focus for the past several years has been cows because "Cows make me smile. I seriously can't look at one and hold back a smile. I don't just see an animal, I see a personality, and that is what I am working to present in my paintings of cows." In 2006 Denise received a commission from the California Milk Advisory Board to paint their famous Happy Cows of the Real California Milk campaign. This led to becoming "The Official Happy Cow Artist", as seen on their website. Her creative process begins with field work, taking reference photos. Cows being a favorite subject means "field work" can be taken literally, and involves careful stepping! With a signature "painterly realism" style Denise breathes life into her subjects, often bringing viewer comments of how "you could just reach out and touch them" and "I expect them to mooo".

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If you can't use the link, just send an email to richartist@cox.net Or call me in the Studio. (619) 933-5935
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March 2005
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Year Archive
View Article  "puppy love", the newest painting by Denise Rich, black pug puppy...
Friends of ours had gotten a new pug puppy a little over a year ago.  Of course, when we visited them my daughter fell in love!  None of our five dogs are small enough for her to pick up. so this was a delicious novelty for her, I am glad the pup already had a home, we don't need any more dogs!!!


This little black Pug puppy could steal anyone's heart away!  And so could that beautiful little girl, I might add completely without bias!!
In Private collection of the artist.

View Article  New original oil painting, "the sign says 'DOG' beach!!" makes it's debut
This is the first I have planned in a series of original oil paintings of scenes from Dog Beach, right here in Ocean Beach, San Diego County.  You see a lot of interesting things there, but mostly you see dogs being extremely happy. 
I am very pleased with the way this painting turned out, the combination of complementary colors blue and orange, with the bright orange of the child's bathing suit bringing the viewers eye to the first focal point, and the dark of the dog bringing the eye to the second one, it really works for me.  Of course, it also satisfies my sense of humor, which needs to be done and is a primary element in many of my paintings.  I hope you enjoy it!  This painting is sold.

View Article  A painting to make Emeril proud, "pork fat rules!"
Here is the finished product on the pig painting.  I have the dog beach painting almost finished so it should be here tomorrow or saturday. 



This painting is sold to one of my valued collectors!
View Article  getting art worthy photos, through rain,sleet and pig poop
I decided yesterday that I needed some fresh photos of Holsteins for painting reference, so off to the local dairy I went.  We have been getting so much rain in San Diego, that halfway down the rut-riddled road I ran into a rushing river where the road had been washed out.  I am not a brave driver, so I turned around and decided to visit holstein heaven another day. 
Off to the local high school agriculture department.  I had heard they have livestock, pigs in particular, and I have been dying for photos of pigs to work from.  Not pot bellied pigs, but a big pink farm sow type of pig.  I spied some students who told me where the animals were kept, and off I went camera in hand.  
After about 20 minutes of breathing through my mouth to avoid the stench of pig poop and snapping whatever photos I could of young pigs in pens,  I decided it was enough and headed back to the car.  I was intercepted by a man who looked at me like I was involved in some kind of secret porcine espionage scheme, and had me follow him to the office.  I understand that I should get permission to be on campus.  Oops.  On the way home I realized that I would not be wearing my shoes into the house.

View Article  "her favorite pillow" or "W. C. Fields Nightmare"
My most recent work is very near and dear to my heart.  As I like to say, they look just like angels when they are sleeping, and that applies to the four legged trash eater as well as the beautiful child.


Where the dog is concerned, it isn't a rare occurance, and I could probably paint her from life as she sleeps most of the time.  The child on the other hand can outlast everyone in the family, so the immortalized in oil image is a special one.
When considering a title for the piece two thoughts were recurring:  the incredible amount of cuteness and sweetness in the painting and a quote by W. C. Fields, "anyone who hates kids and dogs can't be all bad".
This painting is 11 by 14 inches of domestic tranquility.
This painting is sold.
View Article  "save a horse, ride a fat boy"
Recently I was with a friend who played the song "save a horse, (ride a cowboy)", and although I am not especially fond of country music, I have to admit it is catchy.  Maybe too catchy, as when it came time to name one of my latest paintings, a Harley Davidson Fat Boy composition, all I could think of was "save a horse, ride a fat boy".

This is a big painting in a small package,  8 inches by 8 inches, sounds small but really isn't considering the statement it makes.
This painting is sold.